Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the formation of a unified “European army” to defend against Russian aggression, expressing concerns that the United States might no longer provide support to the continent.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky also emphasized that Ukraine would “never accept agreements made behind our backs without our participation,” referencing recent discussions between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about initiating peace talks.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, in a speech on Friday critical of European democracies, called on Europe to “step up in a big way” regarding its defense efforts.
Zelensky said: “I really believe the time has come – the armed forces of Europe must be created.”
He said: “Yesterday here in Munich, the US vice president made it clear [that] decades of the old relationship between Europe and America are ending.
“From now on things will be different and Europe needs to adjust to that.”
Earlier this week, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was a “factory reset” for Nato which signalled the alliance needed to be “robust”, “strong” and “real”.
On Saturday, Zelensky said: “Let’s be honest. Now we can’t rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on an issue that threatens it.
“Many, many leaders have talked about Europe that needs its own military.
“An army, an army of Europe.”
The concept of a European army is something that has been proposed by other leaders, including France’s President Emmanuel Macron who has long backed the bloc’s own military to reduce its reliance on the US.
Zelensky said: “A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table – that says a lot.
“The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had.”
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its three-year anniversary, Trump and Hegseth have both said it is unlikely that Ukraine will join Nato.
The US defence secretary also said a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was unrealistic.
Zelensky said he would “not take Nato membership for Ukraine off the table”.
Trump had a phone call with Putin last week where they discussed peace talks regarding Ukraine, apparently sidelining key allies.
Zelensky said that, as well as Ukraine, Europe “should have a seat at the table when decisions about Europe are being made”.
The US president later said that he and Putin planned to meet in Saudi Arabia, and wrote on social media that the two had invited each other to their respective capitals.
But Zelensky accused Putin of playing a “game”, by isolating America in “one-on-one” talks.
“Next, Putin will try to get the US president standing on Red Square 9 May this year, not as a respected leader but as a prop in his own performance,” Zelensky said.
No date has been announced for President Trump’s visit to Moscow.
Russia is set to celebrate “Victory Day” on May 9, commemorating its 1945 triumph over Nazi Germany.
Regarding Ukraine’s participation in peace talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated last week that Kyiv “will, of course, one way or another, be involved in the negotiations.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that Germany would never endorse a peace deal imposed by force. Similarly, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted the need for Europe to develop its own strategy on Ukraine, warning that “other global players will decide our future” if it fails to do so.